Venoclysis equipment



Sept. 6 1955 G. R. RYAN VENOCLYSIS EQUIPMENT Filed Dec. 26, 1951 United States Patent VENOCLYSIS EQUIPMENT George R. Ryan, Waukegan, Ill., assignor to rkbbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application December 26, 1951, Serial No. 263,326

8 Claims. (Cl. 128-214) This invention relates to an improvement in disposable Venoclysis sets, such sets as are packaged and dispensed as a sterile intravenous infusion set.

Both natural rubber and synthetic thermo plastic tubing have been used in Venoclysis sets; rubber being the material of choice for the non-disposable type as it is adaptable to multiple sterilizations, and the plastic tubing being used for the disposable type. Both types of tubing are employed, using a fitting attached to each end of the tubing, to which fitting a hypodermic needle could be attached. The hypodermic needles were not supplied as an integral part of the disposable set. The needles which could be used with the set were generally standard hypodermic needles, usable on either standard hypodermic syringes or on the Venoclysis set. Such needles are much too costly to be disposable, i. e., used once and then discarded.

Venoclysis sets are useful in dispensing fluids from a container into the vein of a patient, or collecting blood from a donor into a bottle. In blood collection, the most common technique is the so-called vacuum collection system. In that system an evacuation bottle containing anticoagulants, preservatives, etc., is used to store the drawn blood. Theblood is drawn into the evacuation container, and is stored under the remaining partial vacuum. It is important in the vacuum collection technique that the vacuum remaining in the bottle after blood collection is not lost. The bottle stopper must, therefore, be self-sealing, after being punctured for the blood collection. To be self-sealing the stopper must have a relatively thick diaphragm, through which a puncture is made. The ordinary hypodermic needle attached to the standard tubing fitting is very diflicult to push through the diaphragm of the stopper. The lack of finger grips, makes it very diflicult to puncture the diaphragm at right angles, so that the hole will seal securely. Furthermore, the standard needle on the standard tubing fitting makes venipuncture more diflicult because of the lack of adequate finger grips.

According to the present invention applicant provides an inexpensive and efficient Venoclysis set for blood collection. The set provides a stopper puncturing hypodermic cannula which is easily manipulated in puncturing the bottle stopper. Also, applicants venipuncture needle provides a sufliciently long finger grip to facilitate the venipuncture.

In more specific detail the following drawings and description will illustrate the invention.

Fig. 1 is a plan view of a Venoclysis set according to the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top elevation of a portion of Fig. l along section line 22;

Fig. 3 is a cross section view of the device of Fig. 2 along section line 33; and

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view of a portion of the device of Fig. 1 taken along section line 4-4.

The Venoclysis equipment illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a length of flexible plastic tubing 10, a stopper piercing r 2,716,982 Patented Sept. 6, 1

cannula 12 attached to one end of the tubing, and a venipuncture needle 14 attached to the opposite end of the tubing. For blood collection, the plastic tubing is generally about 2 ft. long, and for the vacuum blood collecting technique, tubing of 0.05 inch inside diameter and 0.08 inch outside diameter is suificient to handle the flow of blood. For a gravity blood collection unit thetubing size and the various fitting sizes must be proportionately larger.

The stopper puncturing cannula assembly, shown in Fig. 3, comprises a hub 16, which is a metal tube having a constricted opening 18 in the bore intermediate the ends of the hub. The cannula 12, which has a beveled piercing end 17, telescopes in one end of the hub abutting the constriction 18, and is firmly held in place by swedging the hub against the needle at shoulder 20. The hub has a thin Wall section 22 adjacent the constriction on the side opposite the cannula. A flange 24 extends laterally from the thin section 22, adjacent the end of the hub, and a short axial flange 26 extends beyond the lateral or radial flange. A thin, metal, rectangular plate 28, having a center hole 30, is riveted to the hub for a finger grip. The hole 30 is only slightly larger than'the exterior diameter of the axial flange 26, and the finger grip is assembled on the hub by placing it around the axial flange and then riveting over the axial flange, to hold the grip tightly against the radial flange. The stopper puncturing cannula is attached to the tubing 10 by telescoping the hub over an end of the tubing into which a crimp backing metal tube 31 has been inserted. The tubing is securely held in the hub by the crimping of the thin section end 32 adjacent the radial flange.

The venipuncture needle, shown in detail in. Fig. 4, is a length of straight needle stock 14, having beveled piercing point 34. The needle is attached to the tubing by inserting the blunt end 15 thereof into an end of the tubing 10, and a nylon tube or other hard plastic reinforcing tube 11 is slipped over the tubing to completely cover the juncture of the needle end 15 and the tubing. The tubing and the nylon tube are held in. place by a metal tube 36 which is crimped in the middle 38 and the end 40 thereof. The metal tube 36 has a portion of smaller diameter 42 to accommodate only the needle 14 and the plastic tube 10. The portion 44 of the tube is of a larger diameter to accommodate the needle, the tubing and the nylon tube. The end 43 of the tube is turned inwardly, forming a stop for the tubing.

In assembling the Venoclysis set the cannula 12 is first swedged into the hub, and the finger grip is then riveted to the opposite end thereof. The metal crimp-backing 31 is inserted into an end of the tubing and the tubing telescoped into the hub. The hub is crimped to securely hold the tubing 10. A pinch clamp 50 is placed on the tubing and the venipuncture needle is assembled therewith. The venipuncture needle assembly is completed by telescoping the needle 14 into the other end of the tubing. The nylon tube is telescoped over the juncture and the metal tube 36 is placed over the nylon tube. The tube 36 is then crimped intermediate the ends of the needle 14 to frictionally engage the said tubing 10 and the nylon tube 11 in order to complete the assembly. For packaging, a protective sleeve 52 of plastic, having a closed end 54 is placed over the cannula 12. An open tube 56 of plastic having a cotton wad 58 is placed over the hypodermic needle 14. The unit is then sterilized and packaged. The cotton wad 58 is placed in the tubing 56 to allow for expansion of the gases inside the unit during the sterilizing. The cotton is sterilized along with the unit, so that a sterilized, ready-to-use unit results. The resulting set is a unitary blood collection set which requires no further parts, or assembly to prepareit for. use.

For use, the protective hoods for the needle and the cannula are removed, and the pinch clamp moved to closed position. The stopper puncturing cannula is grasped in the fingers, with the thumb against riveted flange 26. In this position, the tubing is bent over under the thumb. With applicants device, there are no projections extending beyond thumb rest, which might cut the tubing or injure the user. The stopper puncturing cannula assembly provides a relatively smooth thumb platform, facilitating application of heavy pressures sometimes required inpiercing a stopper. The cannula is inserted into a vacuum blood collecting bottle, and the venipuncture is made. The pinch clamp is moved to the desired position for the blood collection. The venipuncture. needle has-a long shank, whereby the user may utilize a substantially full grip for making the venipuncture. Furthermore, the plastic shank of the needle is sufficiently transparent to show the blood-flash-back to ascertain whether the needle is in the vein.

Both the needle and the cannula assemblies provide simple and inexpensive units, which facilitate the manipulative procedures required.

Others may readily adapt the invention for use under various conditions of service, by employing one or more of the novel features disclosed or equivalents thereof.- As at present advised with respect to the apparent scope of my invention, I desire to claim the following-subject matter.

I claim:

1. A disposable venoclysis set comprising, in combination: a length of flexible, plastic tubing; means in the nature of a stopper puncturing cannula attached toan end of said tubing; and means in the nature of a hypodermic needle attached to the other end'ofsaid tubing; said cannula means being a hollow, pointed, metal tube integrally secured to a hub having finger grip means attached thereto; said hub being a hollow tube having a constriction intermediate the ends thereof; said cannula abutting said constriction to prevent inward movement thereof; one end of said plastic tubing having an internally disposed short metal tube'adjacent the end thereof, and being telescoped into said hub at the end opposite said cannula, whereby crimping said hub against said plastic tubing and metal tube securely holds said tubing; said'needle means being a metal needle sharpened at one end thereof; the otherend of said needle being telescoped inside the other endof said tubing; a reinforcing tube of hard plastic covering the juncture between saidneedle and said tubing and extending along said tubing; a metal tube covering the juncture between said needle and said reinforcing tube and a portion of said plastic tubing, whereby'crimping said' metal tube securely holds the metal and the reinforcing tube on said tubing. I

2. A disposable venoclysis set comprising, in combination: a length of flexible, plastic tubing; stopper puncturingmeans attached to an end of the said tubing and communicating therewith; hypodermic needle means at tached to the other end of said tubing; said puncturing means comprising a cannula, and a hub;-said"cannula being a length of hollow, pointed, rigid tubing; said hub being a length of metal tubing having a constriction intermediate the ends thereofi'said cannula being integrally secured to said hub and abutting said constriction to prevent inward movement thereof; finger grip means at-' tachedto said hub at the end opposite'said cannula; one end of said plastic tubing having an internal; short, metal tube adjacent the end thereof, and being telescoped into said hub at the end opposite said cannula, whereby crimping said hub against said plastic tubing and said metal tube securely holds said plastic tubing; said needle means comprising a metal needle sharpened at one end thereof, a reinforcing tube, and a seal; the opposite end of said needle being telescoped inside the other end of said plastic tubing; said'reinforcing tube being hard plastic, coverend of the said tubing and communicating therewith;

hypodermic needle means attached to the otherend of said tubing; said puncturing means comprising acannula, and a hub',said hub being a length of metal tubing having a constriction intermediate the ends thereof; said cannula means being a hollow, pointed, metal tube; said cannula being integrally secured to said hub, and abutting said constriction to prevent inward movement thereof; one end of said plastic tubing having an internal, short metal tube adjacent the end thereof, and being telescoped into said hub at the end opposite said cannula, whereby crimping said hub against said plastic tubing and said metal tube securely holds said plastic tubing; said needle means comprising a metal needle sharpened at one end thereof, a reinforcing tube, and a seal; the opposite end of said needle being telescoped inside the other end of said plastic tubing; said reinforcing tube being hard plastic, covering the juncture between said needle and said plastic tubing and extending along said plastic tubing; said seal being a length of metal tube covering the juncture between said needle and said reinforcing tube and a portion of said plastic tubing, whereby crimping said seal securely holds the reinforcing tube on said tubing; and protective covers for said cannula and said needle, whereby after sterilization the parts are protected from contamination.

4. A stopper-puncturing cannula assembly, adapted for disposable venoclysis equipment'comprising, in combination: a length of straight needle stock, beveled to a piercing point at one end thereof; a hub integrally se-' cured to the end opposite said point; said hub being a hollow tube having a constriction in the bore interme-' diate the ends thereof; the other end of said needle stock abutting said constriction to prevent inward movement thereof;.said hub having a radial flange at the end opposite that contacting said needle stock, and an axial flange extending beyond said radial flange; and finger grip means abutting said radial flange and encircling said axial flange, whereby by riveting over said axial flange,

the finger grip is fastened to said hub; the bore of said hub at the end opposite said needle stock adapted to telescope over a length of flexible tubing, said hub having a thin section adjacent said radial flange adapted to be" crimp ed against said tubing having crimp backing means associated therewith, whereby said hub is securely attached to said tubing.

5. A venipuncture needle adapted for use in a dis-.

posable venoclysis 'set comprising, in combination: a length of needle stock having a beveled sharp point at one end thereof; the other end of said needle telescoping inside an end of a length of flexible, plastic tubing; a

length of hard plastic tubing telescoping over the juncture of said needle and said tubing; and permanently deform' able means enclosing a portion of the telescoping needle and flexible plastic tubing immovably securing the said needle and tubings in telescopedposition.

6. A needle adapter assembly for use in venoclysis apparatus comprising in combination a length of needle stock having one end suitable for insertion into a source of fluid, the other end of said needle being in telescoping relation with an end of a length of flexible tubing for conducting fluid therethrough, a short length of reinforcing tube in telescoping relation with the said other end of the needle stock and with at least a portion of the said flexible tubing which is in telescoping relation with the said needle stock, and an. outer permanently deformable sleeve member frictionally engaging intermediate the ends of the said needle stock a portion .of the said flexible tubing and said reinforcing tube which are in telescoping relationship with the said needle stock, whereby the flexible tubing and reinforcing tube are secured on the said needle stock without causing damage to the needle stock and flexible tubing.

7. A needle adapter assembly for use in venoelysis apparatus comprising in combination a flexible tubing for conducting fluid therethrough, a length of protective tubing in telescoping relation with the flexible tubing adjacent the end thereof, a needle having one end insertable into a source of fluid and the other end of said needle telescoping into the adjacent ends of the flexible tubing and the protective tubing, and an outer permanently deformable sleeve member telescoping over at least a portion of the needle adjacent the said other end of the needle and over a portion of the flexible tubing and protective tubing in telescoping relationship with the said needle adjacent the said ends thereof, whereby the said sleeve secures the flexible tubing and protective tubing to the said needle without causing damage to the needle and the flexible tubing.

8. A venipuncture needle assembly for use in a disposable venoelysis set comprising, in combination: a length of needle stock having a beveled, sharp point at one end thereof; the other end of said needle stock in telescoping relationship with an end of a length of flexible plastic tubing; a length of reinforcing hard plastic tube also being disposed in telescoping relationship with the said needle stock and the said end of plastic tubing and extending on each side of the juncture of said needle stock and the said plastic tubing; and a seal covering the juncture of said needle stock and said reinforcing tube and also covering at least a portion of said plastic tubing telescoping with said needle stock; said seal being a metal tube a portion of which is of larger diameter than the remaining portion; said larger diameter portion telescoping over a portion of said reinforcing tube, plastic tubing and needle stock, whereby crimping said larger diameter portion secures said reinforcing tube and plastic tubing to the said needle stock.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,547,557 Brody July 28, 1925 2,367,806 Shaw Jan. 23, 1945 2,452,644 Fields Nov. 2, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 76,751 Switzerland Feb. 1, 1918 453,877 France Apr. 16, 1913 

